His BYD Co. is now one of China's top automakers; began selling electric cars in December 2008, just a few months after Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy bought a 10% stake in firm, a move that helped push up stock six-fold in 10 months. Hopes to start selling models in U.S. in 2010. Also makes batteries and battery chargers; its stock tumbled this fall after its 65%-owned subsidiary BYD Electronics recalled the battery chargers it supplied to Nokia due to potential electric shock. Left his post at a government-affiliated research institute in Beijing in 1995 to co-found BYD Co. with Lu Xiangyang, now also a billionaire. Initially was a rechargeable battery manufacturer. In 2003 BYD acquired a state-owned, midsize automaker in Xian.